Cognitive-behavioral therapy is an empirically supported treatment based on the idea that our thoughts influence our feelings and behaviors.  Often, by changing the way we think, we can feel better and act better even if the situation around us does not change.  Cognitive-behavioral therapists focus on identifying maladaptive thought patterns and the underlying beliefs and then work with clients to enable them the replace these thoughts with more adaptive ones.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is goal-directed and tends to be briefer and able to achieve positive results much more quickly than many other forms of psychotherapy.  It has shown to be effective in addressing a variety of issues including mood disorders, anxiety, personality disorders, eating disorders, and substance abuse disorders.  CBT can be used alone or in conjunction with medication.